Originally written in February 2019
Gérard Louis or should we call him the multi-talented man, is an artiste, a songwriter, an arranger, a producer- editor as well as an event manager. This amalgam of skills has been developed through a long journey of hard work and sacrifice.
At the age of 13, little Gérard made his first step in the world of music by learning the guitar from his uncle and his father – a talent running in the veins of the family. Later, at the age of 16, he joined a choir where he played the guitar, and this led him to create his own musical group known as Florida at Cité Vallijee, Port Louis. In 1990, Gérard Louis started to pave his career in music as guitarist in the group Energy, performing in a hotel. He continued to escalate the steps of the profession by joining the group Windblows in 1992; a very famous group in the Indian Ocean with songs like Ti Lamock, Casse Cabine, Pik so Ourit and in 1993, with the help of his friends, he created and led the very well-known group Cassiya along with the likes of Alain Ramanisum, Désiré Francois and Alain Lafleur. In 2003, he eventually left the group Cassiya, and started his own productions and was involved in the composition of music for other artistes like Sandra Mayotte, Linzy Bacbotte, Bruno Mooken, Meera Mohun, Negro Pou Lavi, Natty-Jah, as well as musical arrangements for the Bhojpuri Boys.
This journey today amounts to 30 years of experience and in hind sight, what motivated him to choose this path was unemployment, he explains. In 1986, Gerard Louis, already married and with two children, had to face the hardships of life. His parents were already rooted in music, by singing in wedding ceremonies. So, he took hold of this family skill and accepted a job offer in a hotel. He continued to perfectionate his talent by taking a professional course in guitar. And today, he proudly describes his passion for music as love.
“ban zenn.. fodé pa zot laiss zot influencer par bann zafer éphémère”
He portrays his love for music and his albums as the love between a mother and her children, with no differences and unconditional love for each of them….as each is associated with a different emotion.
He has lived many memorable moments in his musical career, but one that has really moved him was when he went to perform in the Olympia in Paris. As he stepped into the theatre, he was in the clouds, filled with emotions and hard to believe that it was a reality, and not a dream. He was standing on such a stage where great international artistes had performed.
To conclude, Gérard Louis leaves a message for our youth: “ban zenn.. fodé pa zot laiss zot influencer par bann zafer éphémère. Pa tombe dan la facilité. Dan nimport ki domaine zot envi fer, mo pou dir zot fer li avek Lamour. Fer li avek Passion et zot bizin ekout zot Professeur ek zot Parent…” A golden piece of advice, to grab onto your passion, work on it with dedication and love, and always heed to your parents’ and teachers’ advice. ∎
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